Mental Health Care

People suffering from mental health problems need the right kind of treatment and mental health care in order to help them cope and to give them the best possible chance of making a full and complete recovery. Around one in four of us will experience a mental health problem in any one year so it can happen to any one regardless of gender, age or social status.

Despite massive awareness campaigns there is still a certain amount of stigma attached to mental illness and it is only be educating the public that stigma can be removed. Many people are afraid to admit either to themselves or to anyone else that they are suffering from a mental illness.

There are many different types of mental illness ranging from mild depression and anxiety to eating disorders and behavioural problems to severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia. However, mental illness affects each individual differently and therefore mental health care has to adopt an holistic approach in order to be effective.

What does mental health care involve?

Mental health care includes specialist treatment, medication and advice from the medical profession, psychological and practical support from other professionals such as psychologists, nurses, social workers and therapists, and of course understanding and care from family and friends.

Mental illness can affect every area of a person’s life and therefore family relationships, work, social life, health, housing and finances and so on can all suffer without appropriate mental health care, and the outcome without the necessary mental health care can be tragic.

Homelessness, losing one’s job, family break ups and debt can add unbearable pressure to someone who is already suffering with a mental illness and the risk of suicide is high amongst people with mental health problems.

The level and range of mental health care services available differs from area to area. Unfortuanately there are still too many people not getting access to mental health services when they need them. Waiting lists for services can be long and getting access to services out of hours or during a crisis can be difficult, particularly if the individual with a mental illness doesn’t know where to go or who to contact to get help and if they live alone.

If you suspect that you or a member of your family is suffering from a mental health problem then in the first instance speak to your doctor. If you are already diagnosed with a mental illness keep important telephone numbers next to the phone and make sure family members know who to contact should a problem arise.

Find out as much as you can about the kind of mental illness affecting your life so that you know what to expect and what can be done. There are a number of charities and organisations set up specifically to help people with various kinds of mental illness so get in touch with them.

The good news is that with appropriate mental health care the majority of individuals with mental illness do recover and manage to get back to their former self.